I have always looked upon my experiences here in Ecuador as nothing short of an adventure.....a "re-conquest". You will find that this Blog not only offers information on how to live, invest or simply visit Ecuador (rated the number one retirement heaven by International Living magazine for 2011) but also informative information and articles on how to survive in this fast changing and volatile World we live in. Your comments are welcome!
colonialquito@yahoo.com

El Conquistqdor Francisco de Orellana

The Conquistador who put the Amazaon baisn "on the map"....Francisco Orellana

Monday, June 4, 2012

One baby, two moms equals controversy in Ecuador

QUITO (AFP) - Ecuador's constitution extols "families of diverse types," but this conservative, Catholic society is struggling to figure out how children raised by parents of the same sex fit that lofty ideal.

A British lesbian couple have sparked controversy at a time when attitudes about same-sex couples are changing in other countries, including nearby Argentina, the first Latin American country to legalize gay marriage.

Ecuadorians have been closely following the case of Nicola Rothon and Helen Bicknell, each of whom is claiming the right to call herself the mother of their newborn.

After their daughter Satya Amani was born in December of last year, the longtime couple tried to register their joint maternity with local authorities, but were denied.

The women, both 34, then filed a claim alleging discrimination and demanding that state prosecutors protect their constitutional rights, but were turned down.

"The constitution protects us, but there is a loophole and that needs to be fixed. It will not be easy," Rothon told reporters recently.

"It's always the case that when you're the first ones, you've got to fight to change the laws," added Bicknell who, with her partner, makes a living teaching English and raising organic produce on the outskirts of Quito.

Rothon said she worries that if she were to die, the government might keep her daughter, since her partner has no biological tie to the infant.

"If something happens to me, does she go to an orphanage?" she said.

The women were considering taking the case to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), an arm of the Organization of American States (OAS).

They met met 16 years ago in Kenya, where they worked as volunteers. They entered into a civil union in Britain in 2010 and tied the knot at a ceremony in Ecuador the following year.

Their baby was conceived with semen donated by a mutual friend, but although parenthood was entered into as a joint endeavor only Rothon, who carried the child to term, is seen as the child's parent.

The case has sparked controversy in Ecuador, an avowedly secular country with an 80 percent Catholic population.

The Catholic Church here has kept a low profile in the dispute, but is emphatic in embracing only heterosexual marriage.

"There is only one mother," said Antonio Arregui, president of the conference of bishops.

The view of most Ecuadorians, he said, is that "a normal family is father, mother and children."

Isabel Salazar, 42, a member of a group that rejects gay marriage and abortion, disputes Bicknell and Rothon's claims to parenthood.

"We respect gays and lesbians, but they are a marginal group," she told AFP.

She added that child raising is a task that required the "complementarity of a male and female parent."

But the couple also has supporters, including Sarahi Maldonado, 20, who is an activist with a group defending the rights of Ecuador's "sexual minorities," including gays and lesbians.

Maldonado said the state promotes homophobia and archaic ideas about family.

"It is outrageous to believe that you can't have a family in which no man is present," she said.

"In daily life we see so many cases of men who do not acknowledge paternity, and nobody talks about the impact of abortions or broken families," she said, decrying what she said was a "clear double standard."

Bicknell said she agreed with the conventional view here that two parents are better than one, but rejected the idea that the couple has to be of two sexes."For any child, it's best if two people love him and want to give him the best," she said.

Organo Gold...more than just awesome Coffee and Chocolate....

CLICK ON PHOTO FOR AN OPPORTUNITY TO IMPROVE YOUR HEALTH AND MAKE MONEY.....TO ORDER PLEASE USE ID no.10001317777

Owning a farm in Ecuador

For business, weekend retreat, or survival in times of crisis........click on the photo to learn how.

Cafe Dios no muere

Click on this photo for details on this great expat hangout with local history and charm in the middle of Spanish Colonial Quito. Location: Corner of Flores and Junin in the rear of Monasterio Santa Catalina in San Marcos

Gabriel Garcia Moreno

Click on this photo for the location of Cafe Dios no muere

Vacation Rental - Casa de Carondelet

Click on the photo for this 4 bedroom and 3 bath private residence from $50 to $300 per night. Located in the historic "Bohemian" neighborhood of San Marcos.

Plaza San Marcos with its 17th Century Church

Click on the photo for a map of the neighborhood of San Marcos and the vacation rental Casa de Carondelet

Francisco Luis Hector, barón de Carondelet

Click on Photo to see how we renovated this incredible home in Colonial Quito in honor of the Baron de Carondelet

Due to the fact that my roots are from South Louisiana...we could not help but honor this beautifull home in the name of Baron de Carondelet who was not only a Govenor of Louisiana during the Spanish Colonial period but also the last Governor of the Real Audencia in Quito, Ecaudor.

Carondelet.....Quito and New Orleans

Francisco Luis Hector, barón de Carondelet (born in 1748 of Flemish descent in Noyelles-sur-Mer, Flanders) was named governor of El Salvador in 1789, and was a Knight of Malta. After his term had ended, Spanish authorities named Carondelet governor of the Spanish Colonies of Louisiana and West Florida from 1791 to 1797. He then served as the last Noble Governor of the Spanish Colony Real Audencia in Quito from 1797 to his death in 1807.

Knights of Malta

click on photo for the complete history on the connection between New Orleans and Quito by Baron de Carondelet

On Carondelet in New Orleans, Louisiana

Click on photo for the map of the Spanish Colony in 1797 Governed by Baron de Carondelet

About Me

I have lived in Ecuador since 2001 and have been offering our services to foriegners wanting to not only visit Ecuador...but purchase property for a new life. My Ecuadorian wife and I are busy with three wonderfull children but are also busy with our coffee shop, farm, and statue export business. Furthermore, we have been offering Traditional Roman Catholic Pilgrimages to Ecuador for the past 7 years. There are many historical and artistic aspects of Ecuador that are impressive. But for me...it is the humility of the Ecuadorian people, which is most alluring. We invite you to come to Ecuador and experience the old world culture, faith, and beauty of this very special land !

Ex-pat relocation services

We will share with you our 10 years of experience living in Ecuador as well as introduction to lawyers, off shore bankers (Panama accounts with reps in Ecuador...sorry no US Residents), Ecuadorian bankers with US and European relations, architects, tax accontants, other expat investors in Ecuador, and real estate tours.